पिनाकी पातु मां प्रीत्या भक्तं सवै भक्तवत्सलः
May Pinaki protect me with affection, for he is always loving to his devotees.
दशलक्षजपेनैव सिद्धिर्भवति निश्चितम्
By reciting ten lakhs of this, accomplishment is certain.
तव स्नेहान्मयाऽऽख्यातं प्रवक्तव्यं न कस्यचित्
Out of affection for you, I have told this; it must not be spoken to anyone.
अश्वमेधसहस्राणि राजसूयशतानि च
A thousand Ashvamedha sacrifices and a hundred Rajasuya sacrifices,
कवचस्य प्रसादेन जीवन्मुक्तो भवेन्नरः
By the grace of this kavacha, a man attains liberation while living.
इदं कवचमज्ञात्वा भजेद्यः शङ्करं प्रभुम्
Whoever worships Lord Shankara without knowing this kavacha,
नारायण उवाच राजेन्द्रान्प्रेषयामास युद्धे शस्त्रविशारदान्
Narāyaṇa said: He sent forth the kings, skilled in weapons, to battle.
बृहद्बलं सोमदत्तं विदर्भं मिथिलेश्वरम्
Brihadbala, Somadatta, Vidarbha, and the lord of Mithila.
आययुः समरे योद्धुं जामदग्न्यं महारथाः
The great chariot-warriors came to the battlefield to fight with Jamadagni's son.
रामस्य भ्रातरः सर्वे वीरास्तीक्ष्णास्त्रपाणयः
All the brothers of Rama, heroic and bearing sharp weapons, were present.
ते वीराः शरजालेन दिव्यास्त्रेण प्रयत्नतः
Those heroes, with divine weapons, skillfully unleashed volleys of arrows.
आययौ समरे शीघ्रं दृष्ट्वा तांश्च पराजितान्
He swiftly entered the battle, seeing them defeated.
चिक्षेप नागपाशं च जामदग्न्यो महाबलः
Jamadagni's mighty son cast the serpent-noose weapon.
भृगुः शङ्करशूलेन सोमदत्तं जघान ह
Bhṛgu struck Somadatta with Śaṅkara's spear.
मैथिलं मुद्गरेणैव शक्त्या वै नैषधं तथा
He struck the king of Mithila with a mace, and likewise the king of Nishadha with a spear.
निहत्य निखिलान्भूपान्संहाराग्निसमो रणे 3.36.
Having slain all the kings, he became like the fire of destruction in battle.
दृष्ट्वा तं योद्धुमायान्तं राजानश्च महारथाः
Seeing him advancing to fight, the kings and great chariot-warriors came forth.
कान्यकुब्जाश्च शतशः सौराष्ट्राः शतशस्तथा
Hundreds from Kānyakubja and hundreds from Saurāṣṭra also arrived.
सौम्या वाङ्गाश्च शतशो महाराष्ट्रास्तथा दश
Hundreds of gentle Vanga warriors and ten from Mahārāṣṭra came as well.
कृत्वा तु शरजालं च भृगुश्चिच्छेद तत्क्षणम्
After forming a barrage of arrows, Bhṛgu cut it down in an instant.
त्रिरात्रं युयुधे रामस्तैः सार्द्धं समराजिरे
Rama fought with them for three nights in the battlefield.
रम्भास्तम्भसमूह च यथा खड्गेन लीलया
Just as a cluster of plantain trees is felled playfully with a sword.
सर्वांस्तान्निहतान्दृष्ट्वा सूर्य्यवंशसमुद्भवः
Seeing all those slain, the descendant of the solar dynasty,
द्वादशाक्षौहिणीभिश्च सेनाभिः सह संयुगे
With twelve divisions of armies, entered the battle.
भृगुः शङ्करशूलेन नृपलक्षं निहत्य च
Bhṛgu, with Śaṅkara's spear, slew a hundred thousand kings.
निहत्य सर्वाः सेनाश्च सुचन्द्रं युयुधे बली 3.36.
Having destroyed all the armies, the mighty one fought with Sucandra.
नागपाशं च चिच्छेद गारुडेन नृपेश्वरः
The lord of kings cut the serpent noose with the Garuḍa weapon.
भृगुर्नारायणास्त्रं च चिक्षेप रणमूर्धनि
Bhṛgu released the Nārāyaṇa missile at the height of the battle.
दृष्ट्वाऽस्त्रं नृपशार्दूलश्चावरुह्य रथात्क्षणात्
Seeing the weapon, the tiger among kings immediately descended from his chariot.
तमेव प्रणतं त्यक्त्वा ययौ नारायणान्तिकम्
Leaving behind the one who had bowed to him, he went to Nārāyaṇa.